Bottom Line:
Specifically, decoloring of the azoxymethane-treated rat colon after scoring classical ACF (cACF) resulted in visualization of a subset of aberrant crypts that remained densely stained.Accordingly, we designated those foci harboring either of the two crypt subtypes as dysplasia-associated ACF (dACF).Consequently, integrative scoring of cACF and dACF enabled capture of all early lesions of the colon.

Mentions:
We previously showed that more accurate detection of dysplasia might be achieved by destaining of cACF, although with laborious procedures, and found that the narrow opening might suggest the dysplastic nature of the foci.(29) We then hypothesized that stained foci harboring crypts with narrow opening, or dACF as tentatively designated, might be equivalent to dysplasia. To address this issue, we examined a rat colon treated with AOM. Starting with examining 161 induced cACF, we noted that decoloring gave rise to three morphologically distinct subtypes of stained crypts (Fig. 1a). We designated enlarged crypts with large openings, and small crypts with narrow openings as c-type and d-type, respectively, to emphasize specific features of cACF and dACF (Fig. 1B). Accordingly, enlarged crypts with narrow openings were designated as cd-type. Normal crypts and a subset of crypts within cACF turned invisible after decoloring. We designated the latter as h-type crypts (Fig. 1B), as such crypts constituted hyperplasia.(29) Thus, various types of crypts were differentially visualized through decoloring. We now redefined dACF as foci harboring at least single d- or cd-type crypt.

Mentions:
We previously showed that more accurate detection of dysplasia might be achieved by destaining of cACF, although with laborious procedures, and found that the narrow opening might suggest the dysplastic nature of the foci.(29) We then hypothesized that stained foci harboring crypts with narrow opening, or dACF as tentatively designated, might be equivalent to dysplasia. To address this issue, we examined a rat colon treated with AOM. Starting with examining 161 induced cACF, we noted that decoloring gave rise to three morphologically distinct subtypes of stained crypts (Fig. 1a). We designated enlarged crypts with large openings, and small crypts with narrow openings as c-type and d-type, respectively, to emphasize specific features of cACF and dACF (Fig. 1B). Accordingly, enlarged crypts with narrow openings were designated as cd-type. Normal crypts and a subset of crypts within cACF turned invisible after decoloring. We designated the latter as h-type crypts (Fig. 1B), as such crypts constituted hyperplasia.(29) Thus, various types of crypts were differentially visualized through decoloring. We now redefined dACF as foci harboring at least single d- or cd-type crypt.

Bottom Line:
Specifically, decoloring of the azoxymethane-treated rat colon after scoring classical ACF (cACF) resulted in visualization of a subset of aberrant crypts that remained densely stained.Accordingly, we designated those foci harboring either of the two crypt subtypes as dysplasia-associated ACF (dACF).Consequently, integrative scoring of cACF and dACF enabled capture of all early lesions of the colon.